Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thankful Thursdays

It's not easy to admit that I struggle with jealousy.  Not for many things...but sometimes I have these huge pangs of jealousy. What am I jealous of?   People who have mothers who want  to come and watch their kids.  It comes up DAILY.  `Oh my mom took the kids' or `Oh my mom comes to help me' in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening etc.  Talking to all the grandma's at the park with their grandkids (Oh I just like to help out! Oh, they couldn't afford daycare so I do it!) or the grandma's bringing the preschoolers to preschool each day.

 I don't know why it drives me so crazy.  I do have people to help me if I ask for  it, I know that, but I think it's just the idea of having someone who wants to help and is able to do so at any time and asks to help.  It's not a big inconvenience in my life to have to bring our kids with us everywhere, but I just sometimes think about how it would be different.  I know a lot of people don't have moms who are available or want to be available for their families and I'm not alone in this.  It's just something I hear Every. Single.  Day. and I get this hit of jealousy and then it passes.  It's weird.  I used to miss the conversations with my mom (we talked all the time) but now with a busy household of three kids I miss what would have been her practical help.  If it didn't come up in almost every conversation I have with fellow moms, it wouldn't be on my mind so much.

The reason I say all that is because I constantly need to remind myself of all that I am thankful for.  So, this week, this is what I'm thankful for.

Thankful For...
1.  The fact that Nya is potty trained!!!  I'm so proud of my little girl.   Now that she seems like a big girl,  I love seeing her personality really emerge.  As pointed out by others, I can see that she is very observant like her big brother Kai.  She will just take in all that is happening.  However, like her big  brother Koen, she has a real zest for life and isn't afraid to just jump onto the top of people wrestling.  


2.  My sister Trish coming to the rescue!  Kai forgot his lunch this week and his school is a good 15 minutes away.  I had stuff baking in the oven and did not feel like packing up the kids, spending $5-10 in gas and an hour of my time, to bring him his lunch which he shouldn't have forgotten.  I would have but I would rather not.  I thought of my friends living in Fleetwood and then remembered my sister is on maternity leave and lives just a minute from the school!  She graciously made a huge lunch for him and he thought it was awesome because it contained just a few more goodies than it would normally have :)
3.  Gary's homemade croutons.  White bread toasted in bacon fat. Yup, seriously bad for you but so good on a caesar salad.
4.  Cute moments between Nya and her dada.  She loves him so much.  PS This was shot at ISO 2500!
5.  This family being okay.  We grew up in the same church family and school.  They were in a huge accident this past week and although there is a lot of recovering that needs to occur, they are safe.  Thankful. (This photo is a couple of years old:)
6.  Beautiful fall weather.  As a photographer, I am so thankful for beautiful (not raining) days.  It just makes everything so much easier!!
7.  A year full of wonderful memories.  I'm currently making my 2013 book and it's so great to look back and see all that has happened.  I'm also thankful that I have everything recorded in my blog, makes it so easy to do!  The kids LOVE looking through these books and I think it's important that they have their childhood recorded somewhere.  Or various places :)
8.  Playing outside.  Kids always find something to do.  We don't have much of a yard but they will race up and down this sidewalk for about an hour each day :)  Nya tends to just go, go, go and not come back.  Getting her in the house again is not my favourite part of the day.
9.  The creativity of kids.  Koen still plays Amazing Race daily with his stuffies but now he has brought in a new game to his daily repertoire.  He plays `Trick or treating' with his stuffies when Nya goes naps.  It is quite elaborate and I don't understand it.  I do know it keeps him very busy :)
10. Koen's cuddles.  One of my favourite things of the day is when Koen comes up to me and says `I need a cuddle'.  He just climbs right in my lap and I love it.  This isn't a cuddly picture because my hands would be full but here is my Kokies.  Koen is not the observer.  Koen is one who dives right in and fully immerses himself into whatever activity he is doing. He has no awareness of what is going on around him and often runs into trees, signs and people.  When we go for a walk, I always need to be aware of what he is doing.  Just last night he ran headfirst into a tree while giggling and running after Kai.  I'm curious to see what he will be like in school. He is already showing an interest in math, just like his big brother, but I think recess will definitely be his favourite:)

What are you thankful for today?

Love, 
Louise

1 comment:

  1. this is a great list of grateful things :) I really enjoy these thursday lists you've been doing.

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